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Creative Current - Wine-tasting combined with murder mystery

Nadine Davenport's bi-monthly column on art, theatre and music in the area.
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Last year’s Plein Air used local scenes to produce many beautiful works of art.

UniTea Video Night - You Can Heal Your Life

UniTea Tea Room will be hosting another Video/Discussion Night with spiritual/environmental documentary-style videos for enjoyment and conversation. A portion of the evening is dedicated to discussion and reflection on the video presented. This is a free event. This month’s  video feature is You Can Heal Your Life, showing on Thurs., April 30 from 7-9pm.

This entertaining and inspirational video is based on the best-selling book of the same name and is hosted by author and teacher Louise L. Hay. It gives insights into Louise’s fascinating personal story, shows how her views on self-esteem, abundance, and the metaphysical causes behind physical ailments were developed, and how she applied them to her own emotional, spiritual, and professional life.

Also showing that evening a 30 minute short Inner Worlds, Outer Worlds - Part 3 of 4, The Serpent and the Lotus. The spiral has often been represented by the snake, the downward current, while the bird or blooming lotus flower has represented the upward current or transcendence. The ancient traditions taught that a human being can become a bridge extending from the outer to the inner, from gross to subtle, from the lower chakras to the higher chakras.

Music, Comedy and Magic May 1 at The Riv

Mat Duffus will be performing at the Ashcroft River Inn Pub on Friday, May 1 at 7pm. He’s billed as an interactive acoustic showman of all kinds of music, as a solo or duo/trio playing Top 10 singles from 1961 to 2014 and original songs. Every set involves some comedy, interaction, audience participation and magic, entertaining all demographics and venues.

Mat likes to get everyone involved in his shows so don’t be surprised if you find yourself volunteering to play a kazoo, sing your heart out or play an instrument.

Wine Tasting and Cafe Murder Mystery Theatre May 2

Join WRAPS and The Rotary Club for a co-presented event of a Wine Tasting event and Community Theatre. Enjoy an evening of wine tasting, appetizers, dessert and an interactive murder mystery play! This evening feature an alcoholic beverage tasting (wine, sparkling wine, ales, ciders), with coffee by Beans Roasted Right, appetizers, desserts and an interactive, comedic murder mystery performed by WRAPS! Tickets are available at Interior Savings Ashcroft and all Rotarians.

Cafe Murder is a murder mystery comedy is easy to produce and perfect for either a stage production or dinner theatre. Rosemary Saint-John is a loud, annoying hypochondriac convinced she is allergic to water. Celebrating her birthday at a restaurant with her four kooky sisters – a hippie, a valley girl, a trucker and a banker – Rosemary makes enemies with everyone around her.

When she disappears and is presumed murdered, the only objective witnesses in the restaurant are the audience members, who must cast their vote.  Was it one of Rosemary’s sisters? The self-taught detective? The passionate French chef? The polite and proper mâitre d’? The sarcastic waiter? No one is above suspicion in this delightful dinner theatre murder mystery!

Don’t miss the “My Fair Lady” Casting Call!

Blimey gov’na! This is going be LOVERLY! Winding Rivers Arts and Performance Society is thrilled to announce that they will be bringing the live theatre production of the much loved musical “My Fair Lady” to the local stage in the Fall of 2015!

WRAPS is looking for approximately 20 people for a variety of roles (singing and acting, acting only, and chorus).

After successfully bringing to the stage our beloved characters from the Land of Oz (Wizard of Oz), terrifying our senses while tickling our funny-bones with pirates meeting the walking dead (Swamp Pirate Zombies), showing us that Shakespeare can be fun for the whole family (Midsummer Night Midterm), and putting ethical dilemmas into a class of its own (Switching Principles), WRAPS is now preparing to present its most ambitious theatrical presentation yet!

Auditions for all parts, singing and non-singing will be held in the Ashcroft Secondary School music room on Wednesday, April 29 (7-9pm), Saturday, May 2 (2-4pm) and Sunday, May 3 (2-4pm).

Scripts, scores and an accompanist will be provided. WRAPS also needs volunteers to work on costuming and props. Anyone interested should come to one of the auditions or contact Jessica Clement at (250) 457-7128.

Desert Bells Handbell Concert with Friends

The Desert Bells Hand Bell Choir will return for a Spring Concert on Sunday, May 3 at the Pentecostal Church in Cache Creek. The 3pm show will feature the Handbell Choir “with Friends”, who include the Lillooet Community Choir, Simple Pleasures recorder duo, as well as soloists and student performances.

The Desert Bells Handbell Choir is  an intergenerational group that rehearses on Thursday evenings in Cache Creek Elementary School.

Mothers Day Afternoon Tea with a Celtic twist

UniTea will be transformed into an English Tea Room on Sunday, May 10. The afternoon will offer delicate finger sandwiches, pastries, crumpets and scones and a choice of the many organic Herbal or Black Teas such as Lavender Mint, Earl Grey, Cream Earl, Earl Grey Lavender and many more. UniTea is also breaking out the good china with various unique tea cups, saucers, tea pots and serving plates. Entertaining for a short set will be the Celtic / Classical duo of from Kamloops Crossbow. The afternoon event takes place from 1-3pm - with tickets available at the door or in advance - a set price per person.

An addition special evening event will feature a longer concert performance. Crossbow are Neil Burnett (Celtic harp, penny whistle, etc.) and Christina Zaenker (cello and voice) who make music from a wild new recipe for 38 strings, ringing timber, and assorted sonic spices. These well-seasoned musicians serve up original compositions using traditional Celtic forms and hints of jazz, creating music that is uplifting, at times melancholic, and always enchanting.

Doors open at 6:30pm with the Concert starting at 7:30pm. Tickets in advance only.

Plein Air Paint scheduled for May 22 & 24

WRAPS and the Ashcroft Art Club will be holding their annual Plein Air Paint-out on May 22-24. The Plein Air Paint Out takes place in Ashcroft which many visiting artists and local art club members participate in. The two day event allows artists to explore and paint the area’s scenery and concludes with a show of paintings and awards presentation.

For more information or to register, go to the WRAPS website. For more information contact ashcroftpleinair@gmail.com.

Desert Daze 2015 Music Line-up Announced!

The sixth annual Desert Daze Music Festival takes place in Spences Bridge from Aug. 7-9. Music, Food and Fun in the Desert Sun. There will be two days of the best in blues, folk, country and rock in a magnificent desert setting. Held at the old school grounds, a stone’s throw from the Trans-Canada Highway.

Come on out to the magnificent desert landscape in BC’s interior and celebrate rural communities with incredible music at the Desert Daze Festival in Spences Bridge. Every summer the Desert Daze Music Festival features an eclectic mix of fantastic local and “imported” musicians and bands. From rock to pop to folk to country to roots and beyond. Music you can move to, groove to, clap along, sing along and dance along to. There is sure to be something to please everyone in the family! Here is a sneak peak at some of the confirmed musical performers that will be appearing at the 2015 edition of the Desert Daze Festival!

Aaron Goodwin with his acoustic funkgrass; Ladybug the Rambler (Clover Abeel); the African beat of Kara-Kata; BC-born and raised, Angela HarrisThe Honky-Tonk Dilettantes with their fine old Bluegrass; a dance-able blues/rock cover band from Kamloops, Bluesfoot; Spiritus Mundii with its eclectic mix of original music with a Latin/Afro/Brazilian/Cuban flavor infused with a dash of jazz and pop; Bobby Garcia & Six More Strings - country music from Merritt; Spences Bridge’s own Flat Busted with their harmonious take on popular songs from the 50’s and 60’s; Rio Samaya whose music is based in folk rhythms of many cultures; Hayley Henderickx from Portland, Oregon; Jennifer Ferguson with her songs of  adventure, life-lessons and freedom; and Nadine Davenport, popular singer/songwriter and owner of UniTea Tea House in Ashcroft.

Stay tuned and check back soon!  Lots more to come! www.desertdaze.ca

Nadine Davenport